Piatra Neamt Young People's Theatre

Piatra Neamt Young People's Theatre

Teatrul Tineretului Piatra Neamt (Piatra Neamt Young People's Theatre) has played a particular role in the Romanian theatrical life before 1989.

By that time, the graduates were compulsorily distributed far from Bucharest for three years. Teatrul Tineretului Piatra Neamt enjoyed a greater mixture of "oversight" on the part of the Board of Censors since it was at a reassuring distance from the capital.

For their temporary exile, the theatre had quickly become the favourite place for the most talented of the Bucharest Academy of Film and Theatre Art's graduates: a de luxe GULAG of the Romanian theatre, which used to convert their captivity into a brilliant creation. Many outstanding actors made their start on this stage. Most of the best Romanian directors of the sixties - i.e. Liviu Ciulei, Andrei Serban, David Esrig, Radu Penciulescu as well as Silviu Purcarete, Alexandru Darie, Alexandru Dabija, Mihai Maniutiu, Catalina Buzoianu, who have received international recognition, either made their start or worked on this stage. An inventive, experimental, daring climate emerged in the Romanian theatrical life. This atmosphere together with the festival born in 1969 stood for the basis of what the exegetes called "the Piatra Neamt phenomenon"'.

By now, Teatrul Tineretului Piatra Neamt is one of the most dynamic, modern and daring stages in Romania. Probably due to its youth: 70 % of the actors are younger than 30. And so are many of the directors who work here. The repertoire consists of many contemporary plays, both Romanian and foreign.

Performances such as The Orphan Zhao by Ji Junxiang, directed by Alexandru Dabija, Antigone by Sophocles, directed by Mihai Maniutiu, The Toy of Words adapted and directed by Alexandru Dabija, Much Ado about Nothing by Shakespeare, directed by Alexandru Dabija, The Night of the Portuguese Nun adapted and directed by Mihai Maniutiu, Insulting the Audience and by Peter Handke and The Lourcine Street Affaire by Eugene Labiche, directed by Vlad Mugur, The Closed Door by J.Graham Reid, directed by Vlad Massaci, The Cherry Orchard by Cehov, directed by Igor Larin, Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand and Bis Denver by Oliver Bukowski directed by Vlad Massaci or Fernando Krapp Wrote me this Letter by Tankred Dorst directed by Cristian Juncu, have greatly contributed to the fame of this theatre.

A recent critics' survey published by "Scena" (the main theatre magazine) has ranked Teatrul Tineretului Piatra Neamt as the best stage during the season 1999 - 2000.

In March 2000 The British Council offered to Mr. Corneliu-Dan Borcia, the general manager of Piatra Neamt Young People's Theatre, the Prize - The Best Theatre Manager of the Year 1999.

General manager

Corneliu-Dan Borcia